Hygienic guarding device

ABSTRACT

Intended for use as an insert in a lower cavity of the human body to prevent undesired discharge therefrom. It comprises a stiff but relatively slender stem, to one end of which is permanently secured a plug or head of insoluble material. To the other end of the stem is attached a mass or fluff of soft, fibrous, absorbent material. The stem is sufficiently stiff and strong to serve as an applicator to insert the head or plug up through the anal canal, for example, into the rectum. The stem is of such length that, when the head or plug is thus inserted, the mass or fluff of soft absorbent material will be held snugly against the opening of the anus.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James Graham Brown Star Rte 5,Varina, Richmond, Va. 23231 [21 AppLNo. 475,759 [22] Filed July 29,1965[45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [54] I-IYGIENIC GUARDING DEVICE 3 Claims, 4Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl. 128/275, 128/271, 128/284 [51] lnt.Cl ..A6lb 19/00, A61f5/44 [50] Field otSearch 128/270- 4 271, 285, l

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,561,020 11/1925 Pond128/270 1,737,949 12/1929 Schaf 128/271 1,915,176 6/1933 Yamaguchi128/271 2,877,767 3/1959 Kramer 128/270 3,037,506 6/1962 Penksa 128/2853,101,714 8/1963 Penksa.... 128/285 3,157,180 11/1964 Bakunin 128/2853,228,398 l/l966 Leonard et al 128/270 FOREIGN PATENTS 493,411 3/1930Germany 128/285 Primary Examiner-Charles F. Rosenbaum Attorney-J. HansonBoyden rectum. The stem is of such length that, when the head or plug isthus inserted, the mass or fluff of soft absorbent material will be heldsnugly against the opening of the anus.

Patented March 16, 1971 FIG .2.

FIG. 3.

FIG .4

mvzuron James G. Brown ATTORNEY HYGIENIC GUARDING DEVICE This inventionrelates to hygienic guarding devices, and more particularly to devicesfor insertion in a lower cavity of the human body to prevent undesireddischarge therefrom.

Specifically, the invention is intended-for use as an insert in the anusor vagina to control involuntary discharge or leakage.

So far as concerns use as an anal insert, the main object of theinvention is to provide a device of this nature for preventing thesoiling or staining of the clothing by a discharge due to the weakeningof the muscles which normally hold the anus tightly closed, or to somediseased condition.

A further object is to provide such a device which may be worn withoutdiscomfort, and which, in fact, is so designed that the wearer will notbe conscious of it.

A still further object of the invention when used for either purpose, isto devise an article of this nature including a plug and means forinserting the plug in the cavity, such inserting means being permanentlysecured to the plug, and forming a part thereof.

A further object, when the invention is used as a vaginal insert, is todevise such inserting means which, while rigid enough to perform itsfunction, is somewhat flexible, so as to be capable of bending slightlyto adapt itself to different positions which the wearer may assume.

Yet another object is to provide a device of this kind which is ofsimple construction, having no relatively movable parts, and which canbe manufactured at low cost.

With the above and other objects in view, and to improve generally onthe details of such devices, the invention consists in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed,and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of thisspecification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the form of my improved device used foran anal insert;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view showing in section a portion of the human anatomy, andillustrating my improved insert in position in the anus; and

FIG. 41 is a side elevation of my improved device used for a vaginalinsert.

The use of the invention as an anal insert will be first described.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and first more particularly to FIGS.l and 2, my improved insert comprises a relatively small, stiff stem 1,to one end of which is permanently secured a bullet-shaped or conicalhead 2. To the other end of stem l is secured a mass or fluff 3 of softfibrous material, such as absorbent cotton, shown as a ball.

The large end of the head 2 is preferably flat and disposed at rightangles to the stem, as shown at 2', to provide a shoulder for anchoringthe insert in a body cavity, but the edge is rounded, as illustrated.

Referring now to FIG. 3, l have illustrated the use of the device in theanus. In this figure, X indicates the anal canal, and Y the rectum. Inpractice, the head 2 is pushed up through the anus by means of stem 1,until it lies within the rectum. The shoulder 2 then engages57 Tl-lEWALLS OF THE RECTUM AND ANCHORS Tl-IE INSERT IN PLACE.

The diameter of the head would be on the order of l to 1.5 centimeters,and it may, if desired, be coated with a suitable lubricant tofacilitate insertion.

The diameter of the stem should be within the range of 2 to 3millimeters. It must be stiff and rigid enough to have sufficientstrength to enable it to insert the head through the anus, as described,but should be as thin as possible, so that, when in position, it is notfelt by the wearer, and'does not cause the reflex urge to defecate. Thelength of the stem may vary from 1.5 to 3 centimeters, depending uponconditions but in most cases would be about 2.5 centimeters. It shouldbe only slightly longer than the length of the anal canal, so that, whenthe head 2 is positioned within the rectum, the mass 3 of absorbentmaterial will be held snugly against the opening of the anus.

The head and stem are preferably formed of compressed fibrous materialsuch as paper or natural or synthetic fibers. They may be impregnated orcoated with a suitable inocuous cement or insoluble adhesive, toincrease their hardness and smoothness but, whatever the material used,the surface, to avoid irritation, should have a pH value approximatelythat of the skin, namely, 4.2 to 4.5 pH.

Alternately, the stem may be made of a piece of thin, plastic-coatedwire, having its end embedded in and permanently secured to the head.

The tuft or ball of absorbent material 3 may be fastened to,

the other end of the stem in any suitable way, as, for example, by awaterproof cement.

While the head and stem may be formed integral, as above mentioned, orthe three parts of the device separately fabricated and united, asdescribed, I contemplate forming the entire insert, complete in onepiece, from a mass of insoluble fibrous material, shaped and compressedby means of suitable dies or a rolling operation, or both.

It has heretofore been proposed tomold suppositories in one piece, butthese are formed of soluble material, intended to dissolve after beinginserted. It has also been proposed to provide an anus insert having anabsorbent pad or the like adapted to engage against the outside of theanus opening, but in these the pad was connected with the insert or plugonly by a flexible cord. Furthermore, it has been proposed to provide atampon or the like with a relatively small rigid stem by means of whichit could be inserted, but the stem was detachable from the tampon orplug, and was withdrawn, once the latter was in position.

So far as I am aware, it is broadly new to provide an insert or plug ofinsoluble material having permanently secured thereto a relatively thinstem, stiff enough to serve as an applicator, and adapted to remain withthe plug in the cavity as long as desired, and then serve as a means forwithdrawing the plug.

While, of course, when employed as an anal insert, the invention can beused by either sex, it may also, with slight modification, by use as avaginal tampon. This is illustrated in FIG. 4.

For this purpose, the stem 4 is considerably longer than in the case ofan anal insert, being on the order of 3 to 4 centimeters long. It mayalso be somewhat larger, as for example, 3 to 4 millimeters in diameter.

The head 5 is much longer than in an anal insert, being in the form ofacylinder 4 to 6 centimeters long. This cylindrical head is made of soft,absorbent fibrous material, such as a special type of paper, or cotton.

The stem 4 is permanently secured to the head as before, either byforming the two parts integral, or by other means. It must be stiffenough to experiencing as an applicator for inserting the plug ortampon, and, in fact, the stem may serve as a handle by means of whichthe head or tampon may be used as a swab, for cleansing purposes.

Since the stem remains in the cavity with the tampon, it must besomewhat flexible, and capable of bending slightly, so that the wearermay assume different positions without experiending any discomfort.

It will thus be seen that the invention may assume different forms, butall based upon the same basic concept; namely, a relatively thin, stiffstem permanently secured at one end to an enlarged head or plug, andhaving at its other end a mass of absorbent material.

lclaim:

l. A hygienic guarding device adapted to be inserted in the anus, andcomprising a stem having an enlarged head permanently secured to oneend, and a mass of absorbent material attached to the other, said headand stem being formed of relatively hard insoluble material having asmooth surface, the length of said stern being substantially equal tothat of the anal canal, so that said head, when inserted, lies withinthe rectum, and said mass of absorbent material is held in contact withthe anus opening, said stern being of relatively small diameter, but

stiff and strong enough to serve as an applicator for inserting the saidhead through the anal canal.

material and of generally conical shape having a circular flat bottomdisposed at right angles to the stem, which is secured to the centerthereof, so as to provide a shoulder around the stem for anchoring theinsert in a body cavity, said stem being relatively long, and stiff andstrong enough to serve as an applicator for inserting the head into thecavity, and also to serve as means for withdrawing the same.

1. A hygienic guarding device adapted to be inserted in the anus, andcomprising a stem having an enlarged head permanently secured to oneend, and a mass of absorbent material attached to the other, said headand stem being formed of relatively hard insoluble material having asmooth surface, the length of said stem being substantially equal tothat of the anal canal, so that said head, when inserted, lies withinthe rectum, and said mass of absorbent material is held in contact withthe anus opening, said stem being of relatively small diameter, butstiff and strong enough to serve as an applicator for inserting the saidhead through the anal canal.
 2. A hygienic guarding device in accordancewith claim 1, in which the diameter of the stem is so small as to causeon appreciable distention of the normally collapsed anal canal, andconsequently no reflex urge to defecate.
 3. A hygienic guarding deviceadapted to be inserted in a lower cavity of the human body andcomprising a relatively small, smooth stem having at one end an enlargedhead permanently secured thereto, and at the other end a mass ofabsorbent material, said head being of relatively hard, insolublematerial and of generally conical shape having a circular flat bottomdisposed at right angles to the stem, which is secured to the centerthereof, so as to provide a shoulder around the stem for anchoring theinsert in a body cavity, said stem being relatively long, and stiff andstrong enough to serve as an applicator for inserting the head into thecavity, and also to serve as means for withdrawing the same.